after him at about fifteen miles an hour, the water boiling and foaming high up on either side of it. All hands in the boat now laid hold of the line, and kept hauling up on him; and as they passed not far from the stern of the ship, they got alongside him by bowing the line. The officer lanced; and after each dart of the lance into the fish, the shank of it had to be straightened, which is easily managed in the bow of the boat. After running about two miles to windward of the ship, the fish blew up blood out of his spouthole. This is at once the indication of the death-blow being given. He stopped suddenly the boats slackened the line, and pulled astern out of the way, as he was going into his death-flurry. They had scarcely got well clear of him, when he rolled heavily, reared his great head up, beat the water with his fins and flukes in great fury, made one tremendous plunge, and was no more. This whale was on the whole easily taken; but the case and results are often very different, even with much smaller ones. The sperm-whale is a very active fish, and it frequently tests its powers by destroying boats and their crews with both jaws and flukes often I have seen our boats stove in pieces by the whale. As soon as the crew see the danger coming, they jump overboard, afterwards get up on the wreck, or take an oar under their arms, until the other boats come and pick them up.-Adventures in the Pacific.

SLAVERY CONTRASTED WITH
FREEDOM.

IN Ohio alone, there are 51,812 more public scholars than in the thirteen slave-states.

In the free states, there are 504,835 Sabbath-scholars in the slave-states, 82,582. The state of New-York has twice as many Sabbath-scholars as the entire thirteen slave

states.

After the great break-down in 1837, a committee was formed to ascertain, as far as possible, the amount that the North lost, in a definite period, in the South. It was ascertained that Maine, New-Hampshire, and Vermont lost about 162,000,000 dollars; Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, 196,000,000 dollars; New-York, 200,000,000 dollars; New-Jersey, 13,000,000 dollars; Philadelphia, 79,000,000 dollars; and Ohio, 87,000,000 dollars.

Slavery in this country, between 1830 and 1840, committed the wholesale murder of 400,000 human beings.

In the chivalrous state of Mississippi, only one of every twenty white persons over twenty-one years of age can read.

The Missionary Society of the American Board, in 1842, received into its treasury upwards of 310,000 dollars. Of this sum the free states contributed 303,000 dollars, and the 'generous South' 7,000 dollars.

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Upon the most moderate calculations, between 1820 and 1830-a space of ten yearsnot less than 320,547 human beings were prematurely worn out and killed on the cotton and sugar plantations of the far South.

The only slave-states which have actually diminished the number of slaves since 1790, are Delaware and Maryland. Delaware has lost 70 per cent.; Maryland 14 per cent. The whole increase of slaves in the Union, from 1790 to 1840, is 1,128,296, or 268 per cent.-The True Wesleyan.

NATURALIZATION OF THE

FUCHSIA IN ENGLAND.

MR. SHEPHERD, the respectable and wellinformed conservator of the Botanical Gardens at Liverpool, gives the following curious account of the introduction of that elegant little flowering shrub, the fuchsia, into our English greenhouses and parlour windows:-Old Mr. Lee, a nurseryman and gardener, near London, well known fifty or sixty years ago, was one day showing his variegated treasures to a friend, who suddenly turned round to him, and declared, "Well, you have not in your collection a prettier flower than I saw this morning at Wapping." "No! and pray what was this phoenix like?" "Why, the plant was elegant, and the flowers hung in rows like tassels from the pendant branches: their colour the richest crimson: in the centre a fold of deep purple," and so forth. Particular directions being demanded and given, Mr. Lee posted off to Wapping, where he at once perceived that the plant was new in this part of the world. He saw and admired. Entering the house, he said, " My good woman, this is a nice plant: I should like to buy it." "I could not sell it for no money; for it was brought me from the West Indies by my husband, who has now left again, and I must keep it for his sake." "But I must have it." "No, sir!" " Here," emptying his pocket, "here are gold, silver, copper.' (His stock was something more than eight guineas.) "Wella-day! but this is a power of money, sure and sure." "'Tis yours, and the plant is mine; and, my good dame, you shall have one of the first young ones I rear to keep for your husband's sake." A coach was called, in which was safely deposited our florist and his seemingly dear purchase. His first work was to pull off and utterly destroy every ves tige of blossom and blossom-bud: it was divided into cuttings, which were forced in bark-beds and hotbeds; were re-divided and sub-divided. Every effort was used to multiply the plant. By the commencement of the next flowering season Mr. Lee was the delighted possessor of 300 fuchsia plants, all giving promise of blossom. The two which opened first were removed into his showhouse. A lady came: "Why, Mr. Lee, my

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dear Mr. Lee, where did you get this charming flower?" "Hem! 'tis a new thing, my lady. Pretty, is it not?" Pretty! 'tis lovely. Its price?" "A guinea: thank your ladyship ;" and one of the two plants stood proudly in her ladyship's boudoir. "My dear Charlotte, where did you get it?" &c. "Oh! 'tis a new thing: I saw it at old Lee's. Pretty, is it not?" "Pretty! 'tis beautiful! Its price?" "A guinea: there was another left." The visiter's horses smoked off to the suburb: a third flowering plant stood on the spot whence the first had been taken. The second guinea was paid, and the second chosen fuchsia adorned the

drawing-room of her second ladyship. The scene was repeated as new comers saw and were attracted by the beauty of the plant. New chariots flew to the gates of old Lee's nursery-ground. Two fuchsias, young, graceful, and bursting into healthy flower, were constantly seen on the same spot in his repository. He neglected not to gladden the faithful sailor's wife by the promised gift; but, ere the flower-season closed, 300 golden guineas chinked in his purse, the produce of the single shrub of the widow of Wapping, the reward of the taste, decision, skill, and perseverance of old Mr. Lee. — Sharpe's London Magazine.

RONGE'S RATIONALISM.

1. We regret to say, that our worst fears, respecting this bold and ardent young man, receive daily confirmation. In a letter from a clergyman, dated "Offenbach, Dec. 1," the writer says, speaking of Ronge, "He declared, before 1,500 auditors, (I heard it myself,) that there are many miracles related in the Scriptures quite unworthy of God; * * * that to behold in Christ more than man is absurd; and that the deceit of Priests alone has attributed to him divinity. The spirit of the nineteenth century, however, must destroy this cheat!"-Continental Echo.

2. A committee of clergymen and laymen in England have recently despatched a "commissioner" into Germany, to inquire into the actual state of the religious movement in that country. The circumstances and results of the mission have been published since the return of the envoy. That the movement commenced by Ronge has become rationalistic, and plunged into errors as great as those with which Ronge was trammelled when bound in the toils of Popery, is now matter of public notoriety; but it will not on that account be without its great and successful ends. All who have left Rome have not flung themselves headlong into the abyss of rationalism: some have stood on the brink of the precipice to counsel those who were insanely willing to take the desperate leap; but finding remonstrance of no avail, the faithful have come out from among those who have exchanged one despotism for another; and hope shines again on the remnant who seek God.

The committee ask for aid; but we must

say, that the cause is one that ought to ensure its own victory. Still, if aid be really necessary, particularly of books, let it be given, and given liberally. The thing chiefly wanted is instruction, and not money. Nay, when we hear Dr. Pribil, the head of the protesters against Ronge, tell the latter, in answer to his inquiry of what he wants, that he wants what Ronge cannot give him: -"I want," says Dr. Pribil, “ Jesus Christ; and him you know not." To this Ronge replied, "But we have Christ." "Yes," returned Dr. Pribil; " but it is Jesus, the son of man, not the Son of the living God. You hold Christ to be a mere teacher, such as you or I; but know him not as the only Son our Lord. If you do, and will sign a declaration to that effect, as well as subscribe the Apostles' Creed, I will give you my hand." "No," answered Ronge: "I will not subscribe to any such thing. I cannot believe, I cannot swallow, such antiquated leaven!" When we hear this, we can hardly assert that the Apostolical Catholics of Germany need instruction; or refrain from asserting that the Friends of Light are not in desperate need of our sorrow and our pity. The latter, when they raised their banner against Rome, called under it a host anxious to be freed from the bondage of the old superstition: but that banner floats now in defiance against the Trinity; it has inscribed on it a denial of the divinity of the Son, and limits that of the Holy Ghost to "an exercise of the divine power which sinks into the soul, and enables it to attain its end." Thus those who fancied they were rallying for Christianity find themselves enrolled in defence of infidelity.-Church and State Gazette.

ST. MARK'S DAY. (APRIL 25TH.)

ST. MARK'S Gospel was written in the year 63. The Order of Knights of St. Mark, at Venice, under the protection of this Evangelist, was instituted in the year 737, the reigning Doge being always Grand Master. Their motto was, Pax tibi, Marce, Evangelista meus!

The custom of sitting and watching in the church-porch on St. Mark's eve, still exists in some parts of the north of England. The "witching time of night" is from eleven till one; and the third year the watcher supposes that he sees the ghosts of those who are to die the next year pass by into the church.

This superstitious observance naturally leads us to the consideration of the belief in apparitions. The pious and eloquent Addi

son,

in some reflections on this subject, beautifully observes,-"If we believe, as many wise and good men have done, that there are such phantoms and apparitions as those I have been speaking of, let us endeavour to establish to ourselves an interest in Him who holds the reins of the whole creation in his hand, and moderates them after such a manner that it is impossible for one being to break loose upon another without His knowledge and permission. For my own part," continues he, "I am apt to join in opinion with those who believe that all the regions of nature swarm with spirits; and that we have multitudes of spectators on all our actions, when we think ourselves most alone.

But instead of terrifying myself with such a notion, I am wonderfully pleased to think that I am always engaged with such an innumerable society, in searching out the wonders of the creation, and in joining in the same concert of praise and adoration." He goes on to say, "Milton has finely described this mixed communication of men and spirits in Paradise; and had, doubtless, his eye upon a verse in old Hesiod, which is almost word for word the same with his third line in the following passage :—

"Nor think though men were none, That heaven would want spectators, God want praise :

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake, and when we
sleep.

All these with ceaseless praise His works behold
Both day and night. How often, from the steep
Of echoing hill and thicket, have we heard

Celestial voices to the midnight air

(Sole, or responsive each to other's note) Singing their Great Creator! Oft in bands, While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,

With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds, In full harmonic numbers join'd, their songs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to heaven."

In another paper, speaking of popular superstitions, he says, "I know but one way of fortifying my soul against these gloomy presages and terrors of mind; and that is, by securing to myself the friendship and protection of that Being who disposes of events and governs futurity. He sees, at one view, the whole thread of my existence; not only that part of it which I have already passed through, but that which runs forward into all the depths of eternity. When I lay me down to sleep I recommend myself to his care; when I awake I give myself up to his direction. Amidst all the evils that threaten me, I will look up to Him for help, and question not but He will either avert them, or turn them to my advantage. Though I know neither the time nor the manner of the death I am to die, I am not at all solicitous about it; because I am sure that He knows them both, and that He will not fail to support me under them."

Nothing can be more reprehensible than the too common practice in nurses and servants, of alarming the tender minds of children with the idle tales of hobgoblins, haunted houses, &c.; the effects of which are to impress them with that timidity, which is afterwards removed with the greatest difficulty, even when advanced in life, and with minds naturally superior to such little things. Sporting with the passions is always a dangerous project; for by such imprudence the mind may be so deranged as to be incapable of ever acting again with regularity and composure.

Children also should never be permitted to frighten one another: many have been involved in the most awful situations from this apparently trivial cause, and have fallen into a state of idiotism, or absolute lunacy. Many, from the sudden impulse of terror, have, from such wanton frolics, lost their lives; while others again have had their intellects so much impaired as to be rendered miserable and altogether disqualified for the occupations of life.

DEATH OF LORD BACON. IT is stated that this great apostle of experimental philosophy became its martyr. He wanted to make an experiment on the

conservation and induration of bodies; for he entertained the notion that flesh would keep as well in snow as in salt. He insisted upon stuffing, with his own hands, the body

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of a fowl with snow, obtained under a hedge in Highgate; but he was thrown into such a shiver that he could not be carried back to town, and he was taken to the house of Lord Arundel, in that village. Unfortunately he was put into the state-bed, which had not been occupied for a year; and from that bed he was speedily borne to his grave.-Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors.

HISTORICAL COINCIDENCES. SUPERSTITION marked every stage of the Scottish Union as happening upon some date adverse to the Stuarts. On the 4th of November the first article of the Union was approved; on a 4th of November was William

of Orange born. On the 8th of January the peerage was renounced; on an 8th of January was the warrant for the murder at Glencoe signed. The ratification of the article of Union was on the 16th of January; on a 16th of January was the sentence of Charles I. pronounced. The dissolution of the Scottish Parliament took place upon the 25th day of March, according to the old style, New-Year's-Day; that concession might therefore be esteemed a New Year's gift to the English. Finally, equivalent or compensation money, that is, "the price of Scotland," came to Scotland on the 15th of August, the day on which the Earl of Gowrie designed to murder James VI.-Mrs. Thomson's Memoirs of the Jacobites.